Post by Papá Héctor on Mar 24, 2019 20:55:40 GMT -5

Ah, so much has happened since Héctor last celebrated his first Valentine's Day with Imelda in the land of the living! Since the beginning of this month, his next item on the agenda was Imelda's birthday, which was also a big deal to celebrate her birthday in the land of the living because the last time he had done so was when he was alive, 96 years ago! Unfortunately, hearing advice from how the rest of his family celebrated birthdays for the sake of tradition held very few ideas only because they had just recently started celebrating parties with music again. Héctor realized that he was kind of on his own for this one. That was both exciting and a little bit stressful only because he didn't want to let Imelda down! Thankfully, meeting Giselle inspired him to get more creative with his present to her. This time, Héctor Rivera was going to do something beyond what was expected of the musician! Coco's return took most of Héctor's attention away from music and planning, but he was able to focus on the planning once more until he'd share his idea with the rest of the family about giving Imelda something that she is so passionate about - something to help Imelda's shoemaking business in a big way!

After gently waking up his wife with a soothing tone of voice to a portion of Las Mañanitas song, the traditional Mexican birthday song:

Héctor helped Coco with making Imelda's breakfast. By helping, it mostly involved Héctor helping with handing the items to Coco while commenting to Rosa about the time that he made a fancy huevos rancheros breakfast for Coco and Imelda, which was a big mistake because Héctor purposely did not say anything about eating the burnt eggs until Coco remembered and it was out in the opened. "..Fine, okay, yes, I ate the burnt up huevos rancheros..but only because I refused to give that to Imelda!" Héctor wasn't sure if Imelda knew or not, since he never mentioned it at the time that she was sick, but well, now it was out in the opened for even Rosa to know! The skeletal musician crossed his bony arms over his chest already expecting Rosa's teasing smile or remark. Though silent, his expression was pretty much saying: 'Alright, go for it, mija. I know you want to.' At this point, after almost a year together, Rosa and Héctor had gotten fairly close enough for that to happen so casually.

After that delicious breakfast, Héctor grinned as he held Imelda in his arms. "Okay, mi amor, even though it's your birthday, we know that today is still a working day!" Héctor had already tried to convince Imelda not to have work today, but since he recognized that she would insist on working because they can't afford to not do that for a day, Héctor came up with a brand new plan! "And so, we will all help you with your shoe making business while you get to relax!" The skeletal patriarch of the family announced with a grin, though the passive skeleton obviously had asked for everyone's cooperation beforehand. With that, he gently lead Imelda to the room within their suite where Imelda usually did her shoe-making business.

Upon entering the shoe-making room, it was immediately obvious that all of Imelda's shoemaking supplies were missing! Héctor couldn't hide his expression even if he tried; he was not surprised at all. In fact, he was grinning so widely, it was almost as if Héctor had gone back to his old ways of borrowing things and not bringing it back!

Post by Coco Rivera on Mar 25, 2019 21:00:36 GMT -5

<<Like we said, mix of actually rping through the morning and summary>>

There were so many things Coco had become accustomed to doing for her own girls and Julio, and a bit her grand-kids, that she then slowly handed over to Elena as old age crept on. Happily enough, and at first, while she could mostly take it in, so proud of how capable Elena was, just like Victoria would have further proven if she hadn't also been taken from them so young.

With the freedom the Land of the Dead had given back, she could once again start doing those mothering things, and even here. And just like Elena had, she would gift them her own mother's way once again as well! Coco herself recalled the last birthday of her mother's she had been there to celebrate with her, or that Imelda had celebrated. She had been as she was now, just plagued by arthritis, and so pushing through tasks Coco then had to take over for her.

She would ignore the day if her family let her.

The days when Tío Oscar and Felipe could gang up with Papá to 'annoy' her, as she had no doubt labeled it, were easier for Coco to recall now. As well as what her father went on to mention even now, and around helping her, about the huevos rancheros that time Mamá had been sick! Coco laughed along with him and the memory, and before being unable to help herself with catching Rosa and Miguel up with the details. If just to take in her great-granddaughter's adorable teasing again, even at her Papá's expense!

Miguel's closeness with Héctor was well known, but it was so great to see Rosa have just as much herself...not that it would make Coco wish any of the rest of the family here same as her father had already struggled with the thought.

Mamá showed up about the tail end of the conversation and after they'd timed it so as to get most of her breakfast done before she fussed them away same as Coco recalled her accusing Papá of then!

All of the things she could once more recall where so treasured by Coco now! And being able to once more.

Taking the opportunity, and every single one, she tousled both Miguel and Rosa's hair on her own way to her seat once everything was ready, of course wishing her mother her own Happy Birthday, and...trying to not look to knowing all through breakfast. She shared a few knowing looks with Rosa, knowing with the girl's temperament she was probably fit to burst with the secret! But both girls were very good about it, and Miguel with them, and Mamá probably suspected very little by the time Papá showed the bigger half of the surprise.

Post by Rosa Rivera on Mar 25, 2019 21:02:03 GMT -5

The joy Rosa had felt at watching Mamá Coco come out of her Alzheimer's haze was nothing compared to being able to hug her again here! Rosa had been taking in every moment she could since her great-grandmother arrived, including this one! Mamá Imelda's birthday had round about been one of Miguel's hints when trying to explain to Rosa that their great-great-grandmother was here after her arrival, and Rosa and the others had the day well memorized as when...their best guess of the story of her starting the shoe-shop had been told again.

This was better... Rosa acknowledged readily, and now also having memories of watching Papá Héctor lead the doting for the day!

Amusing family stories were just icing on their own cakes after that!

In classic grand-mothering fashion, Mamá Coco hadn't left her and Miguel with nothing during breakfast preparation, and they were slowly slipped this and that as things came together. Rosa herself was chewing a pan dulce when Papá Héctor mentioned the huevos rancheros; Mamá Coco adding in the further detail of his eating the burned ones!

Of course at its essence it was nothing but sweet, and as his explanation went on to prove, but that had hardly ever stopped Rosa from teasing before, and now that she had a firm grasp of what a good sport Papá Héctor was, she didn't even try to hold in her laugh, except to try to not do such with her mouth full.

"Did you eat the whole thing?", she still had to know!.

Speak of the Matriarch...

Mamá Imelda entered the kitchen area shortly after this conversation, Rosa not being sure what she caught either. "Hola, Mamá Imelda, Feliz Cumpleaños".

After her greeting, Rosa tried to focus on breakfast...and not if shouting was about to bother the neighbors. She didn't really think Mamá Imelda would react like that though...

Still, she smiled back to Mamá Coco's looks...and would have liked to have hung about the other doorway also to see the reaction to Papá Héctor’s ‘surprise’, but did her part clearing the table; though she kept an ear out!

Post by Mamá Imelda on Mar 25, 2019 21:03:35 GMT -5

Imelda actually took a sort of relief and hope from the thought that Valentine's Day fell so close to her birthday. Surely it meant that Héctor wouldn't do too much...

She would later admit she didn't know where this thought came from. It was like, even after years apart and bitterness, what she said about knowing him she conveniently forgot also! It wouldn't be the first time he put the same effort into both.

Waking up to the familiar lyrics was one thing. Imelda gave a small smile, and peck to his cheek, as she rolled over. Fooling herself yet again that that alone would be the extent of most of Héctor's efforts. "Gracias, Héctor, but this is just another day really", she still tried, yet humored him and took the suggestion of letting him see about stuff while she rousted for the day more leisurely than most times.

That was a not bad celebration of the day, she figured.

Still, she was nothing if not a mother and grandmother herself. There was suspicious whispering followed by more suspicious silence and glances as she walked out, having taken the time and fully dressed. Rosa spoke ahead of her own good morning wishes that would have also pried.

"Hola, Mamá Imelda, Feliz Cumpleaños"

Imelda held in her sigh, because she knew the girl meant well. "Gracias, Mija, but as I'm sure your Mamá Coco can tell you I would rather this be just a normal day". Imelda felt an inward wince even as she said the innocuous words. Not to not also mean Héctor, or...highlight how he hadn't been there for all those years....

She tried to move past the moment, and hoped it was only felt on her end, aiming a smile to Héctor for good measure. And as he and Coco presented the breakfast they had made and helped with. She praised it, of course, but again, in that way that seemed to say Alright, you're good.

She really should have known better!

No sooner was breakfast done than Héctor swooped over to embrace her again. Imelda smiled both lovingly and indulgent of his antics, a common smile, and would have argued for having to clear up, but Rosa saw to that. No doubt in cohoots.

Imelda’s smile just turned more indulgent, with a hint of a sigh, but she followed where Héctor lead; over to the corner room space for their shop. Only now it was looking decidedly empty.

Imelda looked stunned, but still didn’t think to really put it on Héctor, not until she saw that smile! She blinked. But what did this mean he’d done? Hidden everything in the shop? Given it away?

There was no answer that made sense to Imelda, and she for some reason didn’t even fathom the more ‘logical’ thought of what it actually meant; because it wasn’t so!

Imelda was still too stunned to look to mad, but she still looked suspicious. ”Héctor...where’s...”, Imelda paused and gestured to the room, to point out how it wasn’t just one item, ”Well, everything?”.

Post by Papá Héctor on Apr 12, 2019 6:10:37 GMT -5

Rosa, of course, had to tease him about the Huevos Rancheros, laughing at him in a playful way. "Ay,Rosa Linda.." Héctor tilted his head back and raised his eyes to the ceiling, waiting for her to finish laughing. He shot Coco a knowing look, as if asking 'you think she's going to continue teasing?' He almost knew Rosa was going to continue with her teases, before glancing at Rosa with his eyelids half-lowered to a deadpan expression when she asked if he ate it all. Yep. He was right. "Yes, yes.. I ate the whole thing.. But, you see..you don't just throw away food, mija!" He shot back immaturely at her with a playful smile, Ha! He'd laugh if she would ever say that she threw away anyone's food in this family! True, he gave it away or saved it for the next day, but never threw it away! He knew better than to do that after living in the streets both before he met Imelda and after in the land of the dead. "Anyways, you remember what to do when you see- ?- Imelda! Hola mi amor! You're just in time for your birthday breakfast that Coco made!" Imelda suddenly coming into the room caused him to completely change the topic mid-sentence with a sheepish smile. His statement was actually funny in an ironic way because Héctor used to say that Coco helped with the Huevos Rancheros breakfast long ago by helping to make a smile on top of Imelda's breakfast.. and now Coco was here making the whole thing and he was the one helping! Actually, Coco beat him by a mile; he recently learned that Coco secretly has some great cooking skills! Must be all those years being a mamá!

Imelda's comment about it being a regular day wasn't lost on Héctor. He glanced over at Coco with a slightly guilty expression, as it did tug at his guilt out of wonder if he was the one that caused her to feel this way about her birthday with his absence. Still, he tried to shrug it off. It wasn't so surprising to hear after all. He did know people in the land of the dead that were way passed the idea of birthdays, like Chich was. Their mentality was what was the point of celebrating a birthday if you were dead and stopped aging? They mostly celebrated Death Days, which Héctor used to celebrate eagerly until he realized the reason he died made it a little more... not so great as it used to be. He wasn't opposed to celebrating his birthday though. It was only fair for bothering everyone, including Chich, about their birthdays. In the end, it was more of just another thing to celebrate to keep minds distracted in the shanty town where he lived. For Héctor, every year they could celebrate without falling into the Final Death was enough of a reason to celebrate. He then smiled when Imelda tossed a smile at him before glancing at Rosa to indicate that he was about to distract Imelda away from the kitchen now.

Trying to keep Imelda away from the kitchen was easy when she mentioned it being another work day and getting to work on shoe-making. Rosa was in charge of guarding the cake in the fridge and having it delivered to the place while Imelda was distracted by him and Coco. Oh, Imelda's face was so priceless though when she stared at the area of the hotel room in shock that her stuff was gone! She immediately knew that he was behind this though when she asked him where her stuff was! "Where else? It's at your shop, mi amor!" He shrugged innocently with a broad grin as if he were stating the obvious, even though he knew it wasn't. He tossed Coco a humorous look with a bite of his lower lip before crossing his arms across his ribbed chest, raising an eye socket at her with a smug smile. "Bueno.. we should really get to work, Imelda! We got a shoe-making business to run!" He prompted her enthusiastically, as if Imelda was just standing there idly having fun instead of getting to work on the shoe-making business. It was just another working day, like she said.

Post by Coco Rivera on Apr 20, 2019 12:28:23 GMT -5

Coco giggled to the secret look Papá sent her, glancing between him and Rosa, and just enjoying, again, watching her teasing, and his teasing back, a show of both of their fondness. Moments like these were not ones she had ever thought possible, the barrier separating them all. Maybe, if there was a reason for them all being here, this was part of it! Letting Rosa actually met her great-great-grandfather, the same way she now understood Miguel had.

Papá went on to almost spill his plan! Stopping just in time, and as Mamá came in!

Coco gave a normal smile of her own, doing her best to keep Mamá in the dark, though by doing such she was probably more suspicious her own self! She gave Papá a touched smile as he gave her credit for the breakfast. "Well, but Papá and everyone helped!". No, she was not going to take the credit all herself!

She smiled softly again as Mamá said she treated birthday's like normal days, and Papá's look almost seemed to ask if it was because of him. It was hard to say, maybe, but Coco didn't think so. Mamá would probably do the same regardless.

When Mamá and Papá moved on to the part of the hotel where the 'shop'...used to be, Coco followed of course, but also gave a glance to cover for, and ensure everything was going alright with Rosa setting out the cake. She then turned her attention back to Mamá and Papá, just barely able to stop herself from laughing as Papá continued along the ruse!

"Yes! Aren't you always telling me how important it is...hard work", Coco was trying, but admittedly not as good as Papá at saying such things normally, and her hidden giggles threatened out too much!

Post by Rosa Rivera on Apr 20, 2019 12:28:56 GMT -5

Rosa giggled as well as Papá Héctor teased her, glancing to the ceiling as if exasperated. She knew better, though. He was anything but. "Fair enough", she shrugged, with her own grin back, to his point about wasting food. Rosa then nodded to indicate she did recall the plan, before Mamá Imelda's appearance cut off Papá Héctor reminding her about it!

Oh well, she did recall what to do. Even if she couldn't fully reassure him as to the fact.

Everything should run smoothly. Well, assuming Mamá Imelda didn't kill him again or anything when she saw that the shop was gone...

Rosa hide her smile over this thought, and just all of the secrets, as she focused on breakfast. Abuelita must have learned a lot of her own cooking tips and such from Mamá Coco, because Rosa could detect a similarity between the two. She wasn't sure if she'd ever had anything Mamá Coco had made before, perhaps back when she was really young.

Mamá Imelda asked that it just be a another day. Well, maybe if she had another family it could be. Rosa knew even she probably didn't expect them to just let it go, hence the warning. Still, she nodded, "Of course, Mamá Imelda", but her smile was very co-conspiring. As soon as breakfast was done, she quickly offered to clear the table, which was thankfully not unusual, and even worked towards letting her get the cake once Mamá Imelda and Papá Héctor left towards...where the shop had been.

"¡Ok, Apúrate (hurry)!", she whispered to Miguel, having no problems with quickly taking charge, and going over to the fridge to both get, and oversee, the cake making it to the table. She then waited for Mamá Imelda to come back in...and listened for any yelling.

Post by Mamá Imelda on Apr 20, 2019 12:29:29 GMT -5

If Imelda noticed anything about Héctor's perhaps overly cheerful greeting as she entered the kitchen, so in line with if he were plotting something and cut himself off last minute, she let it go and didn't comment upon it; though she did smile to Coco as Héctor said she made the Huevos Rancheros (like when she helped all those years ago, Imelda also recalled).

"Well, it all looks great, thank-you everyone", she still gave praise. She just expected that to be the extent of the surprises, though she couldn't say why, and especially knowing her family as she did!

She knew them, and just Héctor in general, enough to know a straight answer probably wouldn't be coming in response to her asking where the shop items were, but as her shock made way, her frown deepened. Just in determination, though she gave a small sigh as Coco...attempted to join in and help her father. She still didn't have (or need to have!) the knack Héctor annoyingly did with such!

This was no doubt what it would have been like, Imelda realized, to have Héctor around while Coco grew up. Coco had clung to Héctor's ways in doing things firm enough even with him gone. Imelda would take more bitter-sweet-joy from the thought later, after she solved this one problem.

"Héctor...", her tone said the joke had gone far enough, "Are you seriously going to stand there and pretend it's not all gone?". She crossed her arms, "Tell me where it is, now".

If she really thought about the fact that it was her birthday, maybe Imelda could have found her own way to a ballpark guess of the answer, but she also knew ordering Héctor to comply and spill would work too.

Post by Papá Héctor on Apr 29, 2019 21:25:33 GMT -5

"Haha!" Papá Héctor pointed at Rosa and laughed triumphantly that he won that one! Oh, he didn't even hide the fact that he fully enjoyed teasing her back! He also wouldn't hide the fact that she was the only violinist that he liked and tolerated that from. Though of course he knew Rosa would never go as far as Gustavo when he used to make fun of his death.

The paternal skeleton smiled affectionately at Coco's laugh as well, loving that adorable laugh that would make any papá's imaginary heart swell. It was even more sweet how she tried to give everyone else the credit. He couldn't help but give her a kiss on the cheek. Oh, if only his daughter could stop being sweet, but she just couldn't help herself! She was his daughter, after all!

When Coco added her little piece to Imelda about work, oh he burst into a ginormous grin and tried so hard not to laugh. Qué linda! She definitely was his daughter. He thought that was so great of her to say! Of course, Imelda wasn't about to take that for too long, naturally. He knew his wife well enough, among the warning signs, but it was thankfully enough time for the cake to be out on the table and hopefully everything set up.

"Tell me where it is, now"

Héctor grinned sheepishly with a small nervous laugh that escaped his lips, much like he was around Ceci or Chich when they were mad at him. "...Ahah, okay, Imelda..ey, come on, mi amor! Don't worry! Coco and I.. we will show you where it is!" He said enthusiastically as he placed his hands around her shoulders, reassuring his wife that everything was going to be okay as he guided her out of the room. He then made a whistle, much like the ones he'd do to his two great-great grandchildren to hurry them up to do things. In this case, it was to warn them to get ready all the while miming behind Imelda's back: Get the candles. Get the candles! Having planned this out, Héctor had his guitar close by the corner of the room to where he easily picked it up and played the birthday song on his guitar, just like he easily did with Miguel's song in the last Día de Muertos.

"AARRRRRIIIYAAAHHAAA!" He even finished the song with a buen grito that his neighbors were all used to by now. "Hey! Haha! Okay, okay, come on, en serio (seriously), Imelda. As soon as we all get some cake, we got something to show you!" Héctor was beyond excited! He could barely eat his slice of the cake even! In fact, he let Coco have some of his, already set to go as soon as the rest were done with their slices!

Toad: Dash: I'm sure we can arrange it so the Parrs's stay in Toad Hall is only temporary. I guess I'll start that other thread to show you what's up with the place. It's only me RPing with my own characters.May 6, 2019 15:21:41 GMT -5